Aprilia’s Rider Market Speculation: Who’s in the Running?

As the MotoGP season continues, speculation about the rider market is in full swing, especially regarding the Aprilia team. The latest episode of the Crash MotoGP podcast showed some interesting insights into Aprilia’s moves in the rider market, sparking debate about who could be in line to fill the Italian team’s seats.

Having lost the battle to keep Fabio Quartaro, who decided to extend his contract with Yamaha, Aprilia now faces the difficult task of finding a worthy replacement. While the team tried to secure Quartaro with a €4 million-a-year offer, the Frenchman’s rejection left April with several options to consider.

One theory raised by the podcast is that Aprilia may already have someone in mind to fill the void left by Quartaro. While the offer made for Quartaro was not deemed convincing enough to warrant his signature, it suggests that Aprilia may be happy with their current line-up or may have another candidate on their horizon.

Current Aprilia riders Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales have been showing good performances in the first races of the season, which could influence the team’s decision to keep the line-up stable. However, with all four riders – Espargaro, Vinales, Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez – out of contract this year, Aprilia is keeping all options open.

An interesting possibility is speculation surrounding Italian rider Enea Bastianini as a possible candidate to join Aprilia. If the team does not yet have an Italian driver in its lineup, Bastianini’s signing will not only add talent to the team, but could also attract additional sponsorships and increase the team’s appeal in the Italian market.

However, with ongoing negotiations and an ever-unpredictable rider market, Aprilia’s fate in the rider market remains uncertain. Massimo Rivola, the Aprilia team principal, has made it clear that he is ready to react if any of his drivers are hired by another team, ensuring that the team is prepared for all eventualities.

With so many options available and an ever-changing rider market, only time will tell who will end up riding for Aprilia next season. One thing is certain. The Italian team is about to make important decisions to ensure its continued success on the track.